Circuit breaker operating mechanism



June 13, 1933. .1. w. ow

CIRCUIT BREAKER OPERATING MECHANISM med Feb. 4, 1929 4 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR Joseph 1^/ 0W.

I h. u Ol $31.174

'ATTORNEY June 13, 1933. J. w. ow 1,913,407

CIRCUIT BREAKER OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 4, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 To c//zcu/T /NrfAzRuPTE/ "ape/v" fj Z June 13, 1933. J. W. OW

CIRCUIT BREAKER OPERATING MECHANISM 4 vSheets-Sheet 3 o@ f lo W Q 4 4M A. 4 n M h E 3 w @f w y a a 4 M Y Aw. l 1 0 J 6 1 d 00 I 2 o y W5 -q 6 5 4 m E 5 5 a l 5 4 \X n 3 e 3 3 5 QI a b e 5 @L 3. /4 3 www a 1 2 w w N6 6 7 7 N J 5 /.|\v 6 L\ m www@ \.\\\\\m d 5 4 l 7 lwmnf 2 AToRNEY June 13, 1933. J W OW 1,913,4o7

CIRCUIT BREAKER OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 4, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lNvENToR `fase/Jh NOW.

n with the centrifugal mechanism above i scribed that `shall have a mechanical advan- Patented June 13, 1933 vUNITED STATES PArNToFI-Ics JOSEPH W. 0W, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA CIRCUIT BREAKER OPERATING MECHANISM Application iled kFebruary 4, 1929. ,SerialxNd 337,197.

My invention relates to operating mechanisms for circuit interrupters and particularly to centrifugally operated mechanisms.

One obiect of my invention is to provide a housing for an operating mechanism for a circuit interruptei' that shall have a pair .of bearings therein in spaced yrelation for supporting a shaft of thek centrifugal device at each of its ends.

In constructing operating mechanism of the centrifugal type, itwas found advantageous to support the shaft by bearings at each of its ends to prevent the shaft fromq being oscillated when the centrifugal device is actuated. A further advantage of arigidly supported shaft lies in its adaptability to meet service conditions by permitting the centrifugal device to apply a force angularly to the shaft. Such a construction is distinguished from centrifugal devices of the older known types wherein the force could only be effectively applied longitudinally of the mechanism.

Another object of my invention is to provide an operating mechanism, of the labove described type, with cooperating members that shall prevent the load, that is applied at an angle tothe shaft from stressing the shaft `beyond the torsional stress produced by the rotation of the centrifugal device.

A further object of my invention is to incorporate a trip-free structure in the mechanisin of the device above described that shall forni a single compact operating unit that may be attached to directly-connected circuit y interrupters to provide trip-free features A still further ob]ect .of my invention is to incorporate a manually actuated system tage over a directly-connected structure which system increases the lever travel 'but decreases the manual effort required to do Y, work equivalent to'that done by the centrifugal device.

With these principles and objects in mind, my invention will best be understood by referring to the following specification and drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a sectional view, in elevation,

of `a 'centrifugal operating mechanism einbodyiiig my invention in completely actuated latclied position,

Fig. 2 is a view, similar to Fig. 1, showing the structure in normal open position in which the centrifugal mechanism is axially extended, and the circuit interrupter tripped,

Fig. 3 is a view, similar to Figs. 1 and 2, with thecentrifugal mechanism in retracted kposition and one latching member released, occurring only when the centrifugal device is continuing to rotate'after the circuit interrupter has been released,

termediate its length, to which a housing 7,

for supporting a bearing 8, is attached by a plurality of bolts 9. The motor 2 is attached to the bearing housing 7 on the lower side of the flange 6 by bolts 11. The bearof which is enlarged to form a flange that engages an oil 1linger13 associated with the bearing 8.

The enlarged portion of the shaft 12 contains a slot 14 into which an extension 15r on the shaft of the motor 2 neatly fits. The yslot 14 and the extension 15 are kept in alignment by the cylindrical portion 10 of the extension 15 that engages a hole in the end of the shaft 12. Aretaining plate 16, which clamps the .bearing 8 in the housing 7 is 4supported on the housing 7 by a plurality of bolts 17. Such construction eliminates a bearing in one end of the motor and also perinitsthe 'detachment of the motor 2 for replacement or repair.

`The shaft 12 has a hub 18 attached to its lower ,end in a manner to rotate therewith. The hub 18, includes pins 19 that support 'so `ing 8 engages a shaft 12, the lower portion` links 21, which freely pivot thereon and are held in position by nuts 22. Fly balls 2O of predetermined mass are suspended on the ends of the links 21 by pins 23 that also support a second pair of links 24, all of which are freely movable on the pivot 23 and held thereon by nuts 25. The upper links 24 are connected to a hub 26 of a sleeve 27 and are supported and freely pivoted on pins 28 thereof. The sleeve 27 is slidable on the shaft 12 and its upper end is associated through a bearing 32 with a cross head 31 having integral trunnions 33, through which a force from the centrifuga device 3 is applied to the trip-free structure 4.

The opposite end of the shaft 12 is supported for rotation by a bearing 30 in a housing 34 that is formed in the top flange 35 of the housing 1. This construction provides a shaft that is mounted on ball bearings at each of its ends and that has a ball-bearing relation to the cross head 31 through which a force is applied by the centrifugal mechanism, thereby reducing the friction in the system and the resistance to the acceleration of the motor 2 to a minimum, so that full spe-ed will be attained thereby in the shortest possible time.

The trip-free mechanism 4 comprises a pair of levers 41 and 42 which are pivoted coaxially at 43, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. The lever 41 carries a trigger lever 44 that is pivotally mounted thereon by the pin 45. A link 46 joins the trigger lever 44 to the lever 42, being pivoted to the trigger lever by pin 47 and to the iever 42 by pin 48. rlhe. trigger 44 has a ball-bearing latching roller 49 on its lower end that is normally in engagement with a latch 51 that retains the roller in alignment with the pivot points 43 of the levers 41 and 42. Such alignment permits the rotation of the trip-free structure 4 about the pivot 43, as a unit, and, when so positioned, operates in the same manner as a single link pivoted to the pivot point 43. A lever connects the lever 41 to the trunnion 33, the lever 52 being held to the trunnion by means of a roller 53 and a cotter pin 54, the purpose of which will be pointed out hereinafter.

A link 55 is connected, by a pin 56, to the lever 42, the other end of link 55 being connected to one arm of a bell crank 57 by a pin 58. The bell crank is pivoted for rotation on a pair of sleeves (not shown) on a hexagon shaft 59 bearing in a pair of sleeves (not shown) on the housing 1, the other arm 61 thereof being connected to a pull-rod 62 by a pin 63. The shaft 59 has an arm 64 thereon in fixed relation, the lower end of which is connected by a link 65 to the end of the lever opposite to that connected to lever, the link 65 being pivoted to the arm 64 and the. lever by 66 and 67, respectively.

pins The arm and link so connected to the lever 52 constitutes the manually actuating mechanism 5 heretofore referred to, the operation of which will be described fully hereinafter.

Springs 68 and 69 have one of their ends associated with the foot 71 of the housing 1 and have an adjustable relation therewith through bolts 72 and cylindrical nuts 73. The heavier spring 68 is attached to a projection on the bell crank 57 and is employed to accelerate the circuit interrupter or other apparatus to open position. The lighter spring 69 is attached to an extension 74 of the arm 64 by linking through a hole 75 therein. After the trigger 44 has been released through the actuation of the latch 51, the load component of the circuit interrupter, acting through the lever the roller 53 and the frame, becomes of such magnitude as to permit the spring 6i) to restore the centrifugal device 3 to the position shown in Fig. 2.

Packing material 76, 77 and 78 is employed in the bearing housin i to prevent dustand dirt from passing therein, thus insuring proper functioning of the ball bearings.

A collar 79, lof'ated on the shaft adjacent to the hub 18, is employed as a stop to regulate the downward travel of the upper hub 26 and, therefore, the cross head and the trunnions 31 and 33, respectively. The travel should be so regulated that, at the end of the downward travel of the cross head 31, the lever 52 should be so related to the shaft 12 that the upper angle formed therewith is slightly less than a right angle. Such arrangement provides a toggle whereby the reactive force of the breaker through the ler, s 42 and 41 prevents upward movement of the cross head and, therefore, the centrifugal mechanism 3, and the circuit inter apter or other apparatus is held in closed position.

Referring to 4, a plurality of tripping mechanisms 81 are employed which are associated with a trip bar in such manner that the actuation of any of the trip niechanisms will cause the trip bar to be moved toward the position shownin Fig. 3. This movement breaks a toggle formed with a link 83 that is attached to the latch 5l by the pin 84 to cause the latch 51 to be rotated in a counterclocl-.wise direction to release the roller 43.

An extension 85 on the link 83 is provided to extend into the path of the roller 49, when moving toward the latched position, so as to break the toggle formed with the trip bar 82. A like tripping structure is disclosed in a Patent No. 1,807,041 of H. J. Lingal, issued May 26, 1931, and assigned to the testinghousey Electric & Manufacturing Company. As the advantages and novelty of this construction are clearly set forth in the. above named application, no further explanation will be made herein.

The operation of my centrifugal device will non' be explained in detail. Referring to Fig. 2, the'operating mechanism is shown with the centrifugal device 3, the pull rod 62 and the trip-free structure 4 in the retrieved position, which is the normal open position of the mechanism and the circuit interrupter which is attached to the pull rod 62. When a suitable electric circuit is com pleted to the motor 2, the shaft 12 and the centrifugal mechanism 3 will be rotatively moved. As the shaft 12 is entirely supported by ball bearings, very slight resistance will be offered to the above-specified movement so that the motor will almost immediately reach its maximum speed, the Hy balls 20 of the centrifugal mechanism 3 will he expanded radially by the centrifugal force set up in the mechanism, and the cross head 31 will be drawn downwardly along the shaft 12. The downward movement of the cross head 31 applies a load, thro-ugh the trunnions 33, the link 52 and the lever 41, to the lever 42, the-n, by the link 55, to the bell crank 57 which will be rotated in a clockwise direction to move the p ull-rod 62 downwardly to actuate the associated apparatus.

In case an upward movement is desired, the pull-rod 62 may be attached to the opposite end of the bell crank 57, as at 70. The employment of the mechanism is not limited, however, to the two directions described, as a horizontal pull-stroke may be secured by a bell crank 57 modified to have the pin 63 located at right angles to the positions just described. Movements otherwise directed may be secured by other suitable arrangements of the bell crank 57.

During this operation, it is to be understood that the trip-free structure 4, because of the constraining force of the latch 51 on the roller 43, is held together so that the said trip-free structure 4 functions as a single bellcrank rotating counter-clockwise about a pin coincident with roller 43. The closing movement described continues until such time as the hub 26 strikes against the stop 79 which is the time when the lever 52 has passed beyond a position of right-angle relation to the shaft 12. When the closing movement completed, the mechanism is held in this position by the reactive force from the actuated apparatus and from the spring 68 that is transmitted through the lever-and-link system which tends to force the cross head 3l upwardly. As pointed out above, this is prevented by the passage of the link 52 beyond a right-angle position with reference to the shaft 12, and the force on the cross-head 31 now acts downwardly, thus producing, in e Ifect, a latching toggle for holding the mechanism in actuated position.

In order to prevent the forces acting along the axis of the lever 52 from producing a transverse load on the shaft 12, rollers 53 are provided on the trunnions 33 of the cross head 31. The rollers 53 are in engagement,

at all times, with a guide or track 80 formed on the inner surface of the housing 1. As the cross head 31 moves up and down on the shaft 12, the rollers 53 are in constant engagement with the guides 30 and roll thereon in a manner to take all the thrust reaction from the load that is applied through the lever 52 whether actuated by thecentrifugal structure or by the hand-operated lever applied through shaft 59 or coming from the acuated mechanism through the push rod 62 and from the spring 68 which is the case when the mechanism is in the closed position, as described above and shown in Fig. 1.

lVhen it is desired to open the circuit interrupter, or when it is to Lbe automatically opened because of the presence of a predetermined condition in the circuit that energizes the trip mechanism 31, the trip bar 32 is rocked in a clockwise direction, causing the roller 43 to be released from thelatch 51. The trigger 44 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction about the pin 45, permitting the lever 42 to be rotated in a clockwise direction through link 46 and pins 47 and 48 because of the bias of the spring 68 and the reactive force in the mechanism from the actuated apparatus, applied back through pull rod 62, bell crank 57 and link 55, to thereby actuate bell crank 57 in a counter-clockwise direction. The position reached by the trippingA operation just described is shown in Fig. 3, which position will be momentary if the centrifugal device has stopped rotating or may be of greater duration, depending on the speed of rot-ation and time required to come to rest during which time a reactive force set up by the centrifugal device biases the trip-free structure and prevents it from retrieving to reset position.

Referring to Fig. 3, to retrieve the tripfree structure, the spring 69 biases the arm 64 in a counter-clockwise direction to actuate the cross head 31, through the link 65 and the lever 52 to slidel the cross head 31 upwardly along the shaft 12 until it reaches its original position, as shown in Fig. 2. This upward movement of the cross head and lever 52 causes the lever 41 to be rotated in a clockwise direction, rotating the trigger 44 in the same direction thereon so that, at the time the cross head 31 reaches its extended position, the roller 49 will engage the latch 51, and the mechanism will be in completely reset position, shown in Fig. 2.

If, for any reason, it is desired to operate the mechanism manually, a handle is supplied, having a heXagon recess therein that corresponds to the hexagon shape of the shaft 59 that extends from the side of the housing 1, as shown in'Fig. 4. If the handle is attached to the shaft and rotated in a clockwise direction, r,provided the trigger 44 is in latched position, as shown in Fig. 2, the cross head 31 will be moved downward, thus causing the entire system to function in a. manner similar to that heretofore pointed out when the centrifugal device is rotated by the motor.

In order to obtain the mechanical advantage of reducing the force required to manually close the breaker, the lever system has been so arranged that substantially twice the angular rotative movement of the shaft 59 will be required to move the bell crank 57 one half that degree of movement thereon. Vhile such mechanical advantage reduces the load required to operate the structure mechanically, it increases the movement of the handle to a greater angle, which, in cramped quarters, would prevent manual operation of the structure.

In order to shorten the stroke of the handle, I have provided a means whereby a double movement of the handle may be employed to obtain a single operation of the mechanism. This I have accomplished by employing an eXtra trigger 86 that is pivoted to the housing 1 at its upper end by a pin 87. A detent 88 on the trigger S6 engages a detent 89 on the trigger' el when the mechanism has moved to substantially one half its distance of travel. rt this time, the handle may be removed and re-engaged on the shaft 59, and the second half of the movement completed.

In order that the detent 89 shall not engage the detent 8S of the trigger 8G when the lever i1 is actuated by the retrieving movement of the cross head 31, a tongue 91 is pivoted to the lever l1 by a pin 92. The tongue 91 engages the detent S8 and holds the trigger 86 out of the path of travel of the detent 89 to prevent an engagement therebetween that would withhold the trigger le and lever 41 from reset nosition. The tongue 91 rotates about the pivot to cover the detent 89, as shovfn in Fig. 2.

It Will thus be seen that I have provided a centrifugal operating mechanism for a circuit interrupter or other apparatus that is compact in form and includes, Within the mechanism, a trip-free structure that releases the force applied by the centrifugal mechanism and which automatically returns to reset position. The trip-free structure itself is novel, in that very simple and rugged design is provided by the two levers that are coaxially pivoted and that are connected together by a link and a trigger. The trigger is pivoted to one of the levers and is latched at a point in alignment with the pivotal points of the tivo levers to form a structure that functions, `when so latched, as a single lever.

lily circuit interrupter is further novel in having a roller and a guide arranged to cooperate with each other, throughout the entire movement of the centrifugal device, to prevent a transverse stress from reaching the sha-ft. The roller device on the cross head that engages the guide of the housing is employed to counteract this force.

By supplying a single shaft that is journalled at each end in a ball-and-race bearing, and by providing a similar bearing in the cross head of the centrifugal device, I have reduced the resistance to the operating force of the motor to a minimum, so that its maXimum speed may be attained in the shortest possible time.

In case the mechanism is designed to be operated manually, my novel hand closing feature, built in the same housing and supporting the novel features above pointed out, is supplied. The system comprising this structure attains a mechanical advantage over the centrifugallyoperated mechanism. In order that the distance necessary to operate the shaft manually shall not be detrimental, I have provided means whereby the mechanism may be actuated one half the d istance and the handle removed and replaced to travel over the same distance in order to move the operating mechanism the remaining distance.

It is to be understood that, While I have described a particular embodiment oi my invention, many changes, additions, subtractions and substitutions may be made by one skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed upon the appended claims as are made necessary by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a circuit interrupter, of an operating mechanism therefor comprising a housing, a shaft iournalled in the housing, a centrifugal mechanism mounted on the shaft, a lever connected at one part to the centrifugal mechanism and arranged to apply a force transversely of the shaft upon movement of said connected part longitudinally of the shaft, and means for transmitting the reactive transverse force of said connected part of the lever directly to the housing, whereby said shaft is not. subjected to said reactive transverse force.

2. An operating mechanism for circuit interrupters and the like comprising a rotatable shaft. a stationary structure in which the rotatable shaft is journalled, a mechanism longitudinally slidable on the sha ft. and arranged to apply a force transversely of the shaft for operating the circuit intcrrupter upon sliding movement of the mechanism. centrifugal means rotated by the shaft for moving said mechanism longitudinally of the shaft, and means for applying the reactive force of said transverse force from said mechanism to the stationary structure independently of the shaft, whereby transverse stresses on the shaft are avoided.

8. An operating mechanism for circuit interrupters and the like comprising a rotatllt;

able shaft, a supporting structure in which said shaft is journalled, a member slidable longitudinally on said rotatable shaft, a lever connected to said member and arranged to apply a force transversely of said shaft upon movement of the connected part of the lever Y longitudinally of the shaft, centrifugal mechanism rotated by the shaft for moving said member longitudinally of the shaft, and means for transmitting the reactive force of said transverse force to the stationary structure independently of the shaft, Whereby transverse stresses on the shaft are avoided.

4. The combination with a housing supporting a shaft, of a centrifugal mechanism on the shaft, a cross head on one end of the centrifugal mechanism and slidable on the shaft, a lever associated With the cross head through Which a force is applied transverse to the shaft and cooperating means associated with the cross head and housing for opposing the reactive transverse force in order to prevent the same from stressing the shaft.

5. The combination with a housing supporting a shaft, of a centrifugal mechanism on the shaft, a cross head on one end of the centrifugal mechanism and slidable on the shaft, a lever associated with the cross head through Which a force is applied transverse to the shaft, a track associated with the housing, a roller on the cross head cooperating with the track for opposing the reactive effect of the applied force.

6. The combination With a housing supporting a shaft, of a centrifugal mechanism on the shaft, a cross head on one end of the fentrifugal mechanism and slidable on the shaft., a lever associated With the cross head through which a force is applied 'transverse to the shaft, and means associated with the shaft on the side thereof opposite to that of the lever for preventing the shaft from being stressed.

7. A system of levers for transmitting a force to a load, a trip-free structure connected in the system and including a pair of levers pivotally aligned and interconnected by means of a link and a trigger that is latchable in alignment ivith the said aligned pivots.

8. A system of levers for transmitting a force to a load, a 'trip-free structure connected in the system and including a pair of levers pivotally aligned, and means for interconnecting the tivo levers, including a trigger latchable in alignment With the said aligned pivots.

9. A trip-free device including a pair of levers pivoted coaXially, a trigger pivoted on one of the levers, and a latch engaging the trigger at a point in coaxial alignment With the said aligned pivots.

10. In an operative mechanism for a device, a system of levers for transmitting a force |thereto, a trip-free structure including a pair of levers connected in the system and pivoted in axial alignment, a trigger pivoted to one of the levers, al link connecting the trigger to the other lever, and a la'tch for engaging the trigger at a point in alignment With the aligned axis of the levers.

11. In an operative mechanism for a device, a system of levers for transmitting a force thereto, a trip-free structure including a pair of levers connected in the system, a trigger and a latch for interconnecting the levers, 'the latching point and the pivot points of the two levers being coaXially aligned.

12. In an operating mechanism for a device, a system of levers for transmitting a force thereto, a trip-free structure including a pair of levers connected in the system, a trigger and a latch for interconnecting the levers, the latching point and the pivot points of the two levers being coaxially aligned to permit rotation of the trip-free structure as a unit, and means for engaging and retaining the said levers in a predetermined position.

13. A centrifugal mechanism having means for applying a force in translation to a device to be operated, releasable means Within the mechanism adapted to disconnect the centrifugal mechanism from the device to be operated.

14. A housing having a centrifugal mechanism mounted therein that is adapted to eXert a force in 'translation exterior thereof to operate a device, and releasable means in the housing associated with the centrifugal mechanism for disconnecting the device from the said centrifugal mechanism.

15. The combination With a frame having a rotatable shaft moun'ted therein, of a centrifugal device associated With the shaft, a pull rod in the .frame and a separable lever system connecting the centrifugal device to said pull rod.

16. The combination with a. circuit interrupter, a housing, a rotatable shaft supported in the housing, a centrifugal mechanism associated With the shaft, a second shaft supported by the housing, a linkage system asso ciated With the second shaft and inter-connecting the centrifugal mechanism With the circuit interrupter, and a second linkage system associated With the second shaft and connected to the centrifugal mechanism.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 31st day of January JOSEPH W. OW. 

